Flower holder



Feb.. 5, 1935.

A. G. THOMAS` FLOWER HOLDER Filed June 1s, 1952 4 sheeheet 1 alzlalzlm Feb, 5, E935 A. G. THOMAS www@ FLOWER HOLDER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2` Filed aJune 13, A1932 A. G. THOMAS Feb. 5, 19352.

FLOWER HOLDER 4 Sheets-Shea?l 3 Filed June l5, 1932 OOOOOOo/Jf O O O O C) O O J0 Patented lFeb. 5, 1935 FLOWER HOLDER Albert G. Thomas, Lynchburg, Va.

Application June 13, 1932, Serial No. 617,021

8 Claims.

My invention relateslto flower holders of the type which is adapted to be'received in a bowl or other container and is provided with openings, vertical or inclined, to receive the stems of flowers 5 and to support them inl desired positions. Such flower holders are in common use and are ordinarily rigid structures adapted to of particular diameter.

It is the object of my invention to provide a flower holder of this'general type which will be capable'of expansion to fit bowls of differing diu ameters by so constructing the flower holder that portions of it provided with openingsto receive flower stems may be moved outward from a centre so as to enlarge the surface area of the device as a whole. A further object of my invention is to provide a central member itself provided with openings for ower stems with extension elements provided with openings for iiower stems and so secured to it as to be capable of being slid or swung outward to extend portions thereof beyond the periphery of the centre member. A further object of my invention is to so space and arrange the, openings for iiower stems of the centre member and of the extension elements that whether in extended or retracted position the stem openings of the one will be in register with the stem openings of the other so that the flower stems may be inserted. A further object of my invention is to provide for vertical adjustment of the iiowers to suit bowls of differing depths.` And while my invention is particularly intended and adapted for holding flowers it is obviously capable of use for holding any articles having portionsA thereof adapted to enter stem openings such as hereinafter described, which it is desired to display.

With the objects above indicated and other objects hereinafter explained, in view, my invention consists in the construction and combination of elements hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of one type of ower fit only a bowlv Figure 6 is a central vertical sectional View on line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view on the same line as Figure 6 but showing a modif-led means for holding the flower holder in elevated position.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of a further modi.-

cation of my flower holder.

Figure 9 is a side view of the flower holder shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is atop plan view of a further modification of my flower holder.

Figure l1 is in part a central vertical crosssectional view on line 11-11 of Figure 10, and in part a side view.

Figure 12 is a top plan view of a further modication of my ower holder.

Figure 13 is a central vertical sectional view on line 13--13 of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a detail view of one of the expansion elements of the construction shown in Figures 12 and 13.

Figure 15 v(sheet 1) is a fragmentary cross sectional view on line 15--15 of Figure 1.

Figure 16 is a top plan view of a modied construction in which expansion elements are hinged to a centre member.

Figure 17 is a cross sectional view on line 1'1-17 of Figure 16.

Figure 18 is a top plan view ofthe further modi- Figure 19 is in part a cross sectional view on line 19-19 of Figure 18, and in part a side view.

In the drawings, 1 and 2 indicate central discs which may be secured at their centres to a verti cal post 3 by which they are held apart a distance suitable for supporting a flower stem. Disc 2 may be provided on its under face with feet 4, preferably suction discs, forholding the lower disc 2 slightly raised from the bottom of a bowl or other supporting means.

with numerous openings 5 to receive flower stems Discs l and 2 in my ower holder are provided as in flower holders of `well known construction, and on these central discs are carried extension elements adapted to afford an increased area over that of the central disc for holding flower stems and adapted to be so adjusted with reference to the central discs asto vary the increased area.

bers are carried by the centre disc above or below disc 1 and above disc 2 and are arranged In Figures 1 to 4 inclusive the extension memor pin 9 which, as shown, may extend as a rod` from disc 1 to disc 2 and serve to form with these discs a rigid structure. Spacing plates 10 and 11v are preferably provided below disc 1 and above `disc 2 to hold the extension elements against the respective discs. The'extension elements 7 are so shaped that when moved inward to the limit permitted by the Aslots 8 their outer edges will be in register with the periphery of the central discs. These extension members are provided with openings 12 adapted to receive flower stems and these openings are so arranged that they will register with openings 5 of the central discs. yTo ensure registry of the openings 12 of the extension elements with openings 5 of the discs 1 and 2, see Figure 15, the extension elements are preferably provided with one or more rounded recesses 13 on the face of the adjacent central disc by which it is carried adapted to engage teats 14 on the adjacent face of the disc, the recess 13 and the teat 14 forming a stop for the extension element from which it may be readily displaced by inwardl pressure or outward pull.

For the purpose of guiding the extension elements 7 to proper position when retracted the extension elements may each be provided at its inner end with an inwardly extending tongue 71 to extend into slot 31 in the centre post 3;

In the construction shown in Figures 6 and 7 the discs 1 and 2 are without the extension elements and are carried on a tube 46 which is adjustable on a centre post 47 which is carried by a base disc 45 which may be provided with suction cup feet-4. Tube 46 carrying the discs 1 and 2 is adjustable on post 47 by any convenient means as by set screw 48 as shown in Figure 6 or by spring dog 50 engaging notches 49 on centre post 47. The centre post may be of any desiredvertical length and while the device is particularly intended to be used in a bowl 6 as shown, it may be used outside of a bowl. Discs 1 and 2 are provided with perforations 5 for flower stems and disc 2 is preferably provided on its Y under side with a plate 51 of thin metal or other material to prevent flower stems from extending through perforations 5 of lower plate. If desired the peripheries of discs 1 and 2 may be connected bya band 52 to form a cup capable of containing water.

In the commotion shown in Figures 3 and 4 the elements carried by the upper central disc are arranged on its upper face instead of below it as in Figures 1 and 2 and instead of rods 9 extending from disc 1 to disc 2, separate pins 91 are used with the discs 1 and 2, these pins being v'carried by the extension elements and extending through radial slots 81 in the central discs.

While vpivots 25, 26, 27, and 28, see Figures and l1, mayLbe mere pins they are preferably rods extending upward from base 45. The ex-v tension elements must, of course, be of less diameter than the centre member 1 so that whenv swung into closed position ,they willl be wholly within the peripheral line of the centre member.

In the construction/shown in Figures 8, 9, 10

v and 1,1,.the extensionl elements are pivotally secured to the central discs and are swung on their pivots to enlarge or vary the area of the ower holder. In the construction shown in Figures 8 and 9 the extension elements are semicircular and are pivoted to disc 1 (or disc 2) in pairs, one pair -16'above and the other pair 17-18 below the central disc, the pivot rods 19-19 of one pair being at a pointl near the periphery of the central disc diametrically opposite the pivot rods 20-v-20'of the other pair. 'Ihe pivot rods 19-19 vand 20--20 extend through the extension elepoint near its periphery but may be of any form other than adisc if desired. In this construction two of theextension elements 21 and 22 are above the upper face of disc 1 and are pivoted, by pivots 25 and 26 respectively, at points 90 degreesapart if four extension elements are used. If a greater or less number than four are used the distances apart of the pivots will be varied. The other pair of extension elements, 23 and 24, are arranged below the central disc and are pivotally secured to the disc by pivots 27 and 28, pivot 27 being at a point near the periphery of the central disc 90 degrees from pivot 26 and pivot 28 being 90 degrees from-pivot-27 and also 90 degrees from pivot 25. This arrangement of two extension elements above and two below the disc on which they are carried and the arrangement of the pivots 90 degrees apart is to permit all of the extension elements when swung inward on their pivots to bevwithin the peripheral lines of the central discs. i

In Figures 12-and 13 I have shown a modied construction in which the extension elements veach consists of a str-ip of metal or other sheet Amaterial bent into U shape with the legs extending horizontally inward and the portion joining the ends of the legs forming a vertical spacing member, the U shaped members being arranged in pairs, the members of each pair being slidableone on the other to enlarge or reduce the area of the flower holder, the two pairs being arranged at right angles and suitably connected to hold them together and at the same time to permit outward and inward movement of the members of each pair. In this construction 30 and 31 indicate the horizontal legs of an expansion element of the construction shown in Figures 12 and 13, and 32 indicates the spacing i member joining the outer ends of these legs. 'I'he legs of the expansion elements 33' and 34 extending to the right and left in Figure 12 are ar- .ranged above the legs of the expansion elements Figures 2, 4, 9 and 11.and are arranged 'also above the legs of expansion elements 35 and 36 at the lower end of the ilower holder and tho combination corresponds with disc 2 in the iiguresreferredto. Y

In order'to hold the two pairs of extensible elements together vthe legs of each pair are .slotted'longitudinally'as shown at 37 and 38 and in these slots are arranged guides 39 and 40 carried by a. central' vertical rod 41.

The side edges'of one member of each pair may be bent upward and'inward'a's' shown at 301, 311, 351, and 361, so as to enclose the horizontal members o1 the opposite member of' the pair. The horizontal elements 30, 31, 35, 36, may be flared to overlap if desired.

The horizontal portions of the extensible members are provided with openings 12 to receive iiower stems.

Figures 16 and 17 show a modied formin which the centre members 61 and 62, correspond to centre members l and 2 of Figures 1 to 11. ATo,

each of the four edges of the upper-centre member 61 is hinged an extension element 63, these extension elements being so hinged as to swing downward into closed position. To each ofthe four edges of the lower centre members 62 is hinged extension element 64, these extension elements being so hinged as to swing upward into closed position. The centre members 61 and 62 are provided with openings 5 for flower stems and the extension elements 63 and 64 are provided with openings l2 for ower stems.

In Figures 18 and 19 is shown a modiiied form of the radially sliding expansion element construction shown in Figures l to 4 inclusive intended to permit increase of the area of the ower holder without having the gaps between adjacent expansion elements which are shown in Figures l and 3.

In order to secure this result the segmental expension elements 70 are formed as segments of a disc of a diameter greater than the diameter of the centre disc 1 and 2. The segmental expansion elements are shown as quadrants so that when in fully expanded position they will together form a complete circular disc but may be more or less than quadrants if desired. These segments are each provided with a radial slot 80 in which is received rod 90 which is carried by and extends upward from base 45. The slot 80 is necessarily considerably longer than slot 8 of Figures 1 and 2 to permit the segments to have the desired extent oi movement. The segments of each pair when in retracted position will overlap one upon the other and when in such retracted position their peripheral lines will be outside the peripheral line of the centre member. l

The openings for iiower stems in all of the constructions shown are to be arranged at corresponding distances apart on the extension elements and on the central members so that wheny one of the openings in one .movable element is brought in register with an opening of the member on which it moves all its other openings will be in register with the openings in the other members. This registry will be facilitated by the construction shown in Figure l5 and this construction may, of course, be used with any of the modifications.

The iiower holder as shown in Figures 1 to 4 `6 prevents the ends of the ilower stems from slipping through vand will hold the flowers in position while the discs are raised or lowered on post 47 or while the flower holder is lifted out of a bowl to be transferred to another bowl, or

to hold the flowers out of a bowl. And if the peripheries oi the discs 1 and 2 as shown in Figure 6 are connected by band 52 a cup will be formed for holdingA water and owers may be held with their stems in this cup without placing the device in a bowl.

In the use of the ower holder above described assuming the extension elements to be slid or swung together so as to occupy the least horizontal area, in which condition they should be for transportation or storage; if, with the extension elements thus closed in, the ower holder will not holdV all the iiowers desired or will not hold them spread out as desired, the extension elements 7 in the construction shown in Figures 1 to 4, or extension elements 70 in Figures 18 and 19, are pulled outward to the extent desired, or the extension elements to 18 shownin Figures 8 and 9, or elements 21 to 24 shown in Figure 11, are swungoutward on their pivots so as to enlarge the horizontal area. The stems of the iowers may then be inserted in the openings in the extension elements. After flower stems are placed in the openings of the extension elements their positionmay be shifted somewhat by moving the extension elements in and out.

The same result may be eilected by sliding the U shaped members of the construction shown in Figures 12 and 13 in and out. A

It' is, of course, to be understood that the upper and lower extension elements may be connected Y- to move together in or out, or they may be made separately adjustable.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

having a plurality of openings therein to receive flower stems extensible horizontally from a vertical center movable one upon another to vary the area of the surface so as to nt receptacles of diierent sizes and to accommodate a greater or lesser number of ower stems.

2. A iiower holder comprising lmembers each having a plurality of openings therein to receive flower stems extensible horizontally from a vern tical center movable one upon another to vary the area of the surface so as -to accommodate a greater or lesser number` of ower stems, the ower stem openings in an overlying member being spaced and arranged to correspond with the spacing and arrangement of the stem open ings of the underlying member.

3. A flower holder comprising members having openings therein to receive ower stems movable one upon another to vary the area of the surface so as to accommodate a greater or lesser number of ower stems, the flower stem openings in an overlying member being spaced and arranged to correspond with the spacing and arrangement of the stem openings of the underlying member, and means carried by an overlying member engaging means carried by an underlying member for checking the movement of one upon the other when the stem openings of the one are in register with the stemv openings of the other.

4. A flower holder comprising a centre member having a plurality of openings therein for flower stems and extension elements carried by and. movable with reference to the centre member to positions outside its periphery, said extension elements being each provided with a plurality of openings for ower stems and being arranged to move one upon another.

5. A ower holder comprising a centre l mem- 35. 1. A flower holder comprising members each .f

ber having openings therein for ilower stems and extension elements carried by and movable with reference to the centre member extending the area of the flower holder beyond the periphery of the centre member, said extension elements being provided with openings for flower stems spaced and arranged to correspond with the spacing and arrangement of the stemI openings .of the centre member.

6. A flower holder comprising a centre member having openings therein for flower stems and extension elements carried by and movable with reference to the centre member extending thev area of the flower holder beyond .the periphery ofthe centre member, said extension elements being provided with openings fof ower stems spaced and arranged to correspond with the spacing and arrangement of the stem openingsoi the centre member, and means carried by an extension element engaging means on the centre member for checking relative movement when the stem openings of the one are in register with the stem openings of the other.

7. A flower holder comprising a centre mem-4 ber having openings therein for flower stems and extension elements carried by and movable radially with reference to the centre member to extend the area o! the flower holder beyond the periphery of the centre member, said extension elements being provided -with stem openings and means adapted to permit radial movement securing the extensions to the centre member.

8*.A iiower holder comprising a centre member having openings therein for flower stems and extension elements carried by and movable radially with reference to the `centre member to extend the area of the ower holder' beyond the peripheryof the centre member, said extension elements being provided with stem openings and means adapted to permit radial movement securing the extensions to the centre member comprising ag slot in one and a pin carried by the other engaging the slot.

ALBERT G. THOMAS. 

